Method for managing recording and reproduction of multi-dubbed audio stream

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a first play list is generated if a first additional data stream is provided, and a second play list is generated if a second additional data stream is provided. The first play list links the main video data stream with the first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced. The second play list links the main video data stream with the second additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.

FOREIGN PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. 2002-022810 filed on Apr. 25, 2002, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

DOMESTIC PRIORITY INFORMATION

This is a continuation application of application Ser. No. 10/421,836 filed Apr. 24, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for managing recording and reproduction of a multi-dubbed audio stream corresponding to an A/V stream recorded on a storage medium such as a high-density rewritable optical disc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, standardization of new high-density rewritable optical discs has rapidly progressed, for example, BD-RE (Blu-Ray Disc Rewritable), which can store a large quantity of high-quality video and audio data. As a result, products associated with such discs have also been developed. Such products are expected to be commercially available in the near future.

FIG. 1 illustrates a part of the configuration of an optical disc apparatus such as a video disc recorder (VDR) for recording or reproducing signals recorded on a storage medium such as a BD-RE. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc apparatus includes an optical pickup 2 for reading out a signal recorded on a storage medium 1 such as a BD-RE or recording a data stream externally inputted thereto and subjected to a signal processing procedure, a VDR system 3 for reproducing the signal read out by the optical pickup 2 or converting a data stream externally inputted thereto into a data stream to be appropriately recordable, and an encoder 4 for encoding an analog signal externally inputted thereto, and outputting the encoded signal to the VDR system 3.

The VDR system 3 of the optical disc apparatus having the above mentioned configuration may manage recording of a dubbed audio stream, as an auxiliary audio stream, corresponding to the A/V stream recorded on the BD-RE 1. This will be described in detail hereinafter.

FIG. 2 illustrates a linked condition between real play lists and virtual play lists in a rewritable optical disc, for example, a BD-RE. A/V streams are sequentially recorded on a BD-RE, for example, the BD-RE 1 of FIG. 1, in the unit of clips, and managed for recording and reproduction thereof by real play lists containing play control information for reading and reproduction of the A/V streams in the unit of clips and being recorded on the BD-RE 1, respectively. For example, a main A/V stream corresponding to a first clip, that is, a first clip main A/V stream (Clip 1 Main A/V Stream), is managed for its recording and reproduction by a first real play list (Real PlayList 1) containing play control information for reading and reproduction of the first clip main A/V stream, as shown in FIG. 2.

Meanwhile, a dubbed audio stream corresponding to a clip main stream is additionally recorded on the BD-RE 1 as a new clip auxiliary audio stream or a clip dubbed audio stream. For example, a dubbed audio stream corresponding to the first clip main stream linked to the first real play list is recorded as a second clip dubbed audio stream (Clip 2 Auxiliary Audio Stream). This second clip dubbed audio stream is managed for its recording and reproduction by a second real play list (Real PlayList 2).

Also, the VDR system 3 of the above mentioned optical disc apparatus produces and records virtual play lists in order to allow the user to optionally select, edit, and play real play lists recorded and managed in the above mentioned procedure. As shown in FIG. 2, such a virtual play list, for example, a first virtual play list (Virtual PlayList 1) associated with the first real play list, may include a play item (PlayItem) for a main path adapted to read out and reproduce the first clip main A/V stream linked to the first real play list, and a sub play item (SubPlayltem) for a sub path adapted to read out and reproduce the second clip dubbed audio stream linked to the second real play list.

Accordingly, the VDR system 3 of the optical disc apparatus can selectively reproduce the second clip dubbed audio stream managed by the second real play list at the request of the user during a reproducing operation thereof in which the first clip main A/V stream managed by the first real play list is read out and reproduced. Thus, the user can view the video image of the first clip main A/V stream and simultaneously listen to the audio sound of the second clip dubbed audio stream.

In rewritable optical discs such as the above mentioned BD-RE, however, there is a limitation in that only one play item and only one sub play item can be recorded in a virtual play list produced and recorded in an editing procedure performed by the user. For this reason, only one dubbed audio stream can be additionally recorded and managed for each of clip main A/V streams sequentially recorded in the unit of clips.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of managing a main video data stream and multiple additional data.

In one embodiment, a first play list is generated if a first additional data stream is provided, and a second play list is generated if a second additional data stream is provided. The first play list links the main video data stream with the first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced. The second play list links the main video data stream with the second additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.

In one embodiment, the first additional data stream may include a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream may include a second audio data stream.

Another embodiment of the method includes providing a first play list if a first additional data stream is provided and providing a second play list if a second additional data stream is provided. The first play list links the main video data stream with the first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced. The second play list links the main video data stream with the second additional data stream such that the main video stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.

The present invention also relates to a method of reproducing.

In one embodiment, at least one of a first play list and a second play list is reproduced. The first play list links a main video data stream with a first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced, and the second play list links the main video data stream with a second additional data stream such that the main video stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.

Another embodiment includes selectively reproducing one of a first additional data stream associated with a main video data stream and a second additional data stream associated with the main video data stream. The first additional data stream is linked with the main video data stream in a first play list, and the second additional data stream is linked with the main video data stream in a second play list.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a part of the configuration of an optical disc apparatus such as a video disc recorder (VDR);

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a linked condition between real play lists and virtual play lists in a rewritable optical disc, for example, a BD-RE;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a linked condition between real play lists and virtual play lists recorded and managed by a method for managing recording and reproduction of multi-dubbed audio stream in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams each illustrating the syntax of an ‘info.dvr’ file in which management information about multiple dubbed audio streams is additionally recorded by the multi-dubbed audio stream recording and reproduction managing method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Now, example embodiments of a method for managing recording and reproduction of a multi-dubbed audio stream will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings.

The multi-dubbed audio stream recording and reproduction managing method according to the present invention is applicable to the optical disc apparatus having the configuration described hereinbefore in conjunction with FIG. 1. The VDR system 3 of the optical disc apparatus can additionally record multiple dubbed audio streams, desired by the user, corresponding to each of clip-unit A/V streams sequentially recorded on a BD-RE, for example, the BD-RE 1, in the unit of clips. The VDR system 3 can also produce management information for managing recording and reproduction of the multiple dubbed audio streams, so that the multiple dubbed audio streams are managed to be compatible with the file structure and format of the BD-RE 1.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a main A/V streams, sequentially recorded on the BD-RE 1, of a first clip, that is, a first clip main A/V stream (Clip 1 Main A/V Stream), is managed for its recording and reproduction by a first real play list (Real PlayList 1). The first real playlist contains play control information for reading and reproduction of the first clip main A/V stream and is recorded. Also, a second clip auxiliary audio stream or a second clip dubbed audio stream (Clip 2 Auxiliary Audio Stream), which corresponds to the first clip main A/V stream and is additionally recorded, is managed for its recording and reproduction by a second real play list (Real PlayList 2). The second real playlist contains play control information for reading and reproduction of the second clip dubbed audio stream and is recorded.

Also, the VDR system 3 of the optical disc apparatus produces and records virtual play lists (Virtual PlayList) in order to allow the user to optionally select, edit, and play real play lists recorded and managed in the above mentioned procedure. As described in conjunction with FIG. 2, such a virtual play list, for example, a first virtual play list (Virtual PlayList 1) associated with the first real play list, is recorded with a play item (PlayItem) for a main path adapted to read out and reproduce the first clip main A/V stream linked to the first real play list, and a sub play item (SubPlayltem) for a sub path adapted to read out and reproduce the second clip dubbed audio stream linked to the second real play list.

Meanwhile, under the condition in which the dubbed audio stream corresponding to the first clip main A/V stream, that is, the second clip dubbed audio stream, is additionally recorded, as described above, the VDR system 3 may be requested by the user to additionally record another dubbed audio stream corresponding to the first clip main A/V stream. In this case, the VDR system 3 records the additional dubbed audio stream as a third clip auxiliary audio stream or a third clip dubbed audio stream (Clip 3 Auxiliary Audio Stream).

Also, a third real play list (Real PlayList 3) is produced and recorded. The third real playlist contains play control information for reading and reproduction of the third clip dubbed audio stream. In addition, a second virtual play list (Virtual PlayList 2) is produced and recorded. In this case, the second virtual play list is recorded with the play item (PlayItem), which is duplicated from the play item of the first virtual play list, for the main path adapted to read out and reproduce the first clip main A/V stream linked to the first real play list, and a sub play item (SubPlayltem) for a sub path adapted to read out and reproduce the third clip dubbed audio stream linked to the third real play list.

That is, the VDR system 3 produces virtual play lists, the number of which corresponds to the number of dubbed audio streams associated with each clip-unit main A/V stream, for reading and reproduction of the dubbed audio streams. The virtual play lists are recorded with a common play item for a main path adapted to read out and reproduce the associated (clip-unit main A/V stream and with sub play items for distinct sub paths adapted to read out and reproduce the dubbed audio streams corresponding to the virtual play lists, respectively.

The real play lists and virtual play lists produced in the above described procedure are recorded and managed as play list files *.rpls and *.vpls in a ‘PLAYLIST’ subdirectory included in the file structure of the BD-RE, 1, respectively. Also, play list management information for each multi-dubbed audio stream is also produced for searching and managing all of the play list files. This play list management information is recorded in an ‘info.dvr’ file included in a ‘DVR’ directory having an order lower than a highest-order ‘Root’ directory as shown, for example, in FIG. 4.

The play list management information may be recorded in the form of a data block, data_block, in a manufacturer's private data recording area, MakersPrivateData, arranged in the ‘info.dvr’ file for the manufacturer of the BD-RF, to optionally record desired diverse information.

As shown in FIG. 5, the play list management information recorded in the form of the data block in the manufacturer's private data recording area includes: information, for example, a multi_dub_exit_flag, which is a flag set in the case of additionally recorded multiple dubbed audio streams for each clip-unit main A/V stream; multi-dubbed virtual play list numbers, set_multi_dub_VPL_number, produced and recorded when the flag is set; information ref_RPL_index about an index for referring to the real play list linked to the play item for the main path included in the virtual play lists associated with the multiple dubbed audio streams: information dub_total_VPL_number about the total number of the virtual play lists respectively corresponding to the multiple dubbed audio streams; and information VPL_index[j] about indexes for respective virtual play lists corresponding to the multiple dubbed audio streams.

Since the above described play list management information for each multi-dubbed audio stream is recorded in the form of a data block in the manufacturer's private data recording area provided in the ‘info.dvr’ file in accordance with the multi-dubbed audio stream recording and reproduction managing method of the example embodiments, the syntax of the ‘info.dvr’ file is maintained as it is. Also, the file structure of the BD-RE is maintained as it is.

Alternatively, the play list management information for each multi-dubbed audio stream may be recorded in a region, other than the manufacturer's private data recording area, provided in the ‘info.dvr’ file, for example, an area between a play list table information (TableOfPlayList) recording area and the manufacturer's private data recording area.

Meanwhile, the VDR system 3 searches for and refers to the play list management information about multiple dubbed audio streams additionally recorded in the ‘info.dvr’ file, thereby identifying whether or not there are multiple dubbed audio streams recorded on the BD-RE. If there are multiple dubbed audio streams, then the VDR system 3 identifies virtual play list information for reading and reproduction of the multiple dubbed audio streams, and information about the total number of virtual play lists associated with the multiple dubbed audio streams.

Thereafter, the VDR system 3 reads out and reproduces a main A/V stream and the multiple dubbed audio streams linked to the identified virtual play lists. For example, the VDR system 3 can selectively reproduce the second clip dubbed audio stream managed by the second real play list or the third clip dubbed audio stream managed by the third real play list at the request of the user during a reproducing operation thereof in which the first clip main A/V stream managed by the first real play list is read out and reproduced. Thus, the user can view the video image of the first clip main A/V stream and simultaneously listen to the audio sound of the second clip dubbed audio stream or the third clip dubbed audio stream.

Although the example embodiments have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

As apparent from the above description, at least one example provides a method for managing recording and reproduction of a multi-dubbed audio stream. An example embodiment is capable of additionally recording and managing multiple dubbed audio streams for each clip-unit main A/V stream. A further embodiment is capable of selectively reproducing diverse dubbed audio streams desired by the user. 

1. A method of managing a main video data stream and multiple additional data streams, comprising: generating a first play list if a first additional data stream is provided, the first play list linking the main video data stream with the first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced; and generating a second play list if a second additional data stream is provided, the second play list linking the main video data stream with the second additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: recording the first play list and the second play list.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first play list includes first main path management information for a main path and first sub-path management information for a sub-path, the first main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the first sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream; and the second play list includes second main path management information for a main path and second sub-path management information for a sub-path, the second main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the second sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first main path management information is the same as the second main path management information.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream.
 9. A method of managing a main video data stream and multiple additional data streams, comprising: providing a first play list if a first additional data stream is provided, the first play list linking the main video data stream with the first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced; and providing a second play list if a second additional data stream is provided, the second play list linking the main video data stream with the second additional data stream such that the main video stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.
 10. A method of reproducing, comprising: reproducing at least one of a first play list and a second play list, the first play list linking a main video data stream with a first additional data stream such that the main video data stream is reproduced with the first additional data stream if the first play list is reproduced, and the second play list linking the main video data stream with a second additional data stream such that the main video stream is reproduced with the second additional data stream if the second play list is reproduced.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the reproducing step selectively reproduces one of the first play list and the second play list.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the reproducing step selectively reproduces one of the first play list and the second play list based on user input.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the first play list includes first main path management information for a main path and first sub-path management information for a sub-path, the first main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the first sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream; and the second play list includes second main path management information for a main path and second sub-path management information for a sub-path, the second main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the second sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first main path management information is the same as the second main path management information.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream.
 19. A method of reproducing, comprising: selectively reproducing one of a first additional data stream associated with a main video data stream and a second additional data stream associated with the main video data stream, the first additional data stream being linked with the main video data stream in a first play list, and the second additional data stream being linked with the main video data stream in a second play list.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the selectively reproducing step selectively reproduces one of the first additional data stream and the second additional data stream based on user input.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream.
 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the first play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream.
 23. The method of claim 19, wherein the second play list includes main path management information for a main path and sub-path management information for a sub-path, the main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first play list includes first main path management information for a main path and first sub-path management information for a sub-path, the first main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the first sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the first additional data stream; and the second play list includes second main path management information for a main path and second sub-path management information for a sub-path, the second main path management information for managing reproduction of the main video data stream, and the second sub-path management information for managing reproduction of the second additional data stream.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first main path management information is the same as the second main path management information.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first additional data stream includes a first audio data stream, and the second additional data stream includes a second audio data stream. 